LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 511 



shallowness of his attainments in science, and notorious want of 

 professional experience and ability, and whose opposition to my 

 being a member of the expedition was only in part payment of 

 the favours showered upon him by ex-Secretary Dickerson and 

 President Van Buren, to the neglect of older, abler officers. Your 

 pretended reference of my letter of July 30th to the Navy Depart- 

 ment, with your presumption that the secretary would, and your 

 opinion that he ought to be governed by the wishes of Lieutenant 

 Wilkes, will pass for just what it is worth. In no one will it ex- 

 cite more surprise than in Mr. Paulding himself, who wrote me, in 

 reply to my letter referred to him by you, under date August 6th, 

 as follows : 



" You are aware that the expedition was already reorganized on 

 its present plan previous to my coming here, and that it was deter- 

 mined to make no alterations." 



That the public may be still better qualified to judge how likely 

 it is that you knew nothing of the remonstrances made to the pres- 

 ident by my friends in Congress, I will here present for their peru- 

 sal a paper in addition to those already given. 



To his Excellency Martin Van Buren, President of the United States. 



" The undersigned, members of Congress from the West, beg 

 leave once more, very respectfully, though earnestly, to call the 

 attention of the administration to the claims of J. N. Reynolds, 

 Esq., to a prominent place in the Exploring Expedition. This 

 measure was early and warmly supported by the West. It was 

 originated and first called to the attention of Congress by one of 

 her sons. She still continues to feel an interest, and still indulges 

 the hope that it may be so equipped as not to disappoint the just 

 expectations of the country: she still hopes to see it depart in 

 skilful and experienced hands, unshorn of its naval or scientific 

 strength. Congress has made repeated appropriations, which leave 

 no doubt of the hold of the expedition upon the science, the intel- 

 ligence, and pride of the nation. 



" The whole Ohio delegation, as well as many other members 

 of the House, immediately after the passage of the law authorizing 

 the measure, addressed communications to the late executive. 

 After congratulating him on account of the interest he took in 

 directing the expedition to be fitted out in a manner worthy ' our 



